When I lived in NYC, I met a neighbor who was a Nutcracker, Brain Surgeon. He was bowing out of the surgery part because of the 8-10 hour surgeries he would do. It was putting a strain on his back. I asked him if he was going to have surgery on his back to correct it. He told me, through his own experience with other surgeons, NEVER get back surgery, if you can avoid it. He said, he does not recommend it. You will never be the same after having it done. And not all surgeons are good ones. He reiterated to me never have back surgery. I know someone who had the back surgery done for a herniated disk. Well, he became partially paralyzed after having it done.